Job 3:23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
Lamentations 3:7 He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy;
Lamentations 3:9 he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked.
Great trials, physically and emotionally came upon Job. His pain is evident in both. He feels as though he has been rejected by God and all hope seems to have escaped him.
John Gill explains 3:23 like this: Job thought his way, was hid from the Lord, neglected and not cared for by him but overlooked and slighted, and no regard had to the injuries done him and from whom the way of the Lord was hid. The causes and reasons of which he could not understand; not being conscious of any notorious sin committed, indulged, and continued in, that should bring these troubles on him: or the good and right way was hidden from him in which he should walk; he was at a loss to know which was that way, since by his afflictions he was ready to conclude that the way he had been walking in was not the right, and all his religion was in vain; and according to this sense he labored under the same thoughts as found in,
Psa 73:13-14 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God
His way of escape out of his present troubles was unknown to him; he saw no way open for him, but shut up on every side: or there was no way for others to come to him. It was common for others come and seek his counsel and advice, and to be instructed by him, others to ask relief of him, and many of the highest rank and figure to visit, caress, and compliment him; but now all had forsaken him.
Patric Henry commented on 3:23; Grace teaches us in the midst of life’s greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its greatest crosses, to be willing to live. Job’s way was hid; he knew not wherefore God contended with him. The afflicted and tempted Christian knows something of this heaviness; when he has been looking too much at the things that are seen, some chastisement of his heavenly Father will give him a taste of this disgust of life, and a glance at these dark regions of despair. Nor is there any help until God shall restore to him the joys of his salvation. Blessed be God, the earth is full of his goodness, though full of man’s wickedness. This life may be made tolerable if we attend to our duty. We look for eternal mercy, if willing to receive Christ as our Savior.
Do not lose hope in Jesus Christ in the midst of trials/troubles. Seek refuge and stand firm in this hope, trust, and reliance on Him alone.
